Hand held weight swinging toy

ABSTRACT

A hand held weight swinging apparatus comprised of a frame handle from which there outwardly depends spaced apart shafts, with each shaft receiving the end of an arm in journaled relationship thereon. The free depending end of the arm is attached to a weight in the form of a ball so that when the frame is properly held in one&#39;&#39;s hand and manipulated, each of the balls may be pivotally swung about their respective shafts, with the direction of rotation being clockwise, counterclockwise, or in opposed direction with respect to one another, dependent upon the manner in which the handle is manipulated.

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Meek, Sr.

States Patent [54] HAND HELD WEIGHT SWINGING TOY [72] Inventor: Samuel W. Meek, Sr., PO. Box 342,

Pocola, Okla. 74902 [22] Filed: June 25, 1971 [21 Appl. No.: 156,868

[5 2] US. Cl ..46/47, 46/51, 272/67 [451 June 27, 1972 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Marcus L. Bates [5 7] ABSTRACT A hand held weight swinging apparatus comprised of a frame handle from which there outwardly depends spaced apart shafts, with each shaft receiving the end of an arm in journaled relationship thereon. The free depending end of the arm is attached to a weight in the form of a ball so that when the frame is properly held in ones hand and manipulated, each of the balls may be pivotally swung about their respective shafts, with the direction of rotation being clockwise, counterclockwise, or in opposed direction with respect to one another, dependent upon the manner in which the handle is manipulated.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJURZY me I 3.672.093

' IN VEN 7'02 SAMUEL WMEEK, Sr.

BY MARCUS LEATES HIS AGENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hand held ball swinging toys are known to those skilled in the art, however, the prior art contributions which encompass this type apparatus generally teaches a ball attached to a frame by a string or the like, so that manipulation of the toy is primarily used for the purpose of whiling away the time.

Other prior art hand held weight swinging toys have been proposed wherein a single shaft has mounted thereto a pair of pivoted arms for pivotally swinging a weight thereabout.

It is desirable to provide a hand held weight swinging toy 7 having many of the attributes of the prior art toy devices and additionally providing an interesting divergence when manipulated, as well as providing an apparatus which is especially beneficial because of the peculiar exercise it induces into ones body. Furthermore, it would be desirable that such a toy be stimulating to the user thereof and that it be capable of being manipulated in a plurality of different ways. Moreover, it is desirable that such a toy be rugged in design, simple in operation, low in cost, and attractive in appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hand held weight swinging toy having a frame handle from which there depends a pair of spaced apart shafts having swingable weights joumaled thereon. The swingable weights are each fabricated in the form of an arm having a weighted end and a journaled end with the journaled end being received by one of the spaced apart shafts.

The length of the arm and ball enables each of the balls to freely pass the adjacent shaft without interference therefrom.

The weight of the ball can be adjusted so as to vary the rotational speed and energy requirements. An important aspect of the toy lies in the provision of rigid arms which prevent the balls from banging the wrist of the manipulator and thereby preventing possible injury which might otherwise occur.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hand held weight swinging toy having a plurality of weights swingably disposed thereon which can be manipulated by the player to cause the weights to swing in various different directions.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a hand held apparatus having spaced apart weights pivotally associated therewith which can be controlled in a manner which depends upon the energy imparted into the shafts thereof.

A further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a hand held weight swinging apparatus having spaced apart swingable weights which may be manipulated by the holder thereof so as to enduce various desirable motions into his body.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a toy which entertains and invigorates the manipulator thereof.

Another and still further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus having swingable weights associated therewith which can be used to rebuild muscle cordination of a severely injured arm or hand of the manipulator thereof.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for teaching muscle and eye cordination of the physically handicapped or the mentally retarded which is low in cost, lightweight, safe, and which is entertaining for both children and adults.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by reference to the accompanying drawing.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational part cross-sectional view of a hand held weight swinging apparatus made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken, part cross-sectional, disassembled view of part of the apparatus seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken top view of the apparatus seen in FIG. 1, with some parts being removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a part cross-sectional, broken view, similar to FIG. 2, which sets forth a modification of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 and sets forth still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Looking first to FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein there is disclosed a hand held, weight swinging apparatus l0 comprised of a frame which includes a hand hole portion 11 having a lower free terminal end portion 12. Diametn'cally opposed support members, one of which is indicated by the numeral 13, laterally depends from the hand hold so as to form a T therewith. Upstanding members 14 and 15 upwardly depend from the support members and are reduced in diameter along a marginal end portion thereof so as to form a pair of spaced apart shafts, one of which is seen indicated by numeral 16.

An arm 17 has a weight 18 affixed thereto. A second arm 19 has a weight 20 affixed thereto. Shaft 21 preferably is parallel to shaft 16 and to the hand hold 11.

As best seen illustrated in FIG. 2, the joumaled end of each arm is provided with a drilled passageway 22 which receives a marginal portion of the illustrated shaft therethrough. Shoulder 23 results form the upstanding member 15 being reduced in diameter so as to provide the before-mentioned shaft. A pair of washers 24, 24' are received by the shaft with the arm being interposed therebetween. Keeper 25, which for purposes of illustration is shown to be in the form of a common cotter pin, is received within the aperture 26 so as to maintain washer 24' closely adjacent to the pivotal end of the arm. Still looking at FIG. 2, the ball 20 is seen to be attached to the swing end of arm 19 by means of threaded connection 27, although other means of attachment could equally well be employed and still remain within the comprehension of the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 4, a split snap ring 125 can be received within the illustrated groove which circumferentially extends about the outer surface of shaft 121, if such an expedient is deemed desirable.

As seen in the modification of FIG. 5, arm 119 is adjustably received through enlargement 121 of shaft 33, with set screw 34 affixing the shaft to the passageway formed within the enlargement. Washer 124 is maintained adjacent to upstanding member by the illustrated aperture, which preferably receives a cotter pin therethrough so as to maintain the component parts properly assembled together.

In operation, the apparatus is held in one hand by grasping the hand hold 11 and a circular motion is imparted thereinto by utilizing the wrist and forearm to produce this action, which imparts a circular path of travel into each of the spaced apart shafts so that each of the weights are forced to commence to rotate about the shaft. The weights pivot about the shaft in a direction of rotation which is dependent upon the direction of the energy imparted thereto. After one has mastered the technique of causing both weights to swing in either direction, he can then proceed to further master the operation of the toy by causing the weights to swing in opposed directions and ultimately one may be able to exercise absolute control over the weights causing either one to rotate in any desired direction.

It is preferred to maintain the effective length, or the arc described by each of the arms and ball an amount which is less than the maximum distance provided by the yoke 28.

Where deemed desirable, the washers 24, 24 may be made of Teflon" (a trademark); the entire frame made of plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene; with the balls 18 made of high impact plastic material. It is preferred to maintain the weight of the balls several times heavier than the weight of the arms, and preferably no less than four times the weight of the arm. The size of the ball will naturally determine the rate of rotation which one can impart into the apparatus and for this reason it is sometime advantageous to make the toy adjustable, such as illustrated in FIG. 5.

While HO. 2 discloses a ball threadedly receiving the free end portion of an arm, those skilled in the art will realize that the ball and arm can equally well be fabricated as an integral unit, as disclosed in the embodiment of FIG. 5.

The present invention provides an entertaining toy which is also beneficial as an exercising device, particularly in exercising the entire limb from the shoulder all the way down to the fingers since this portion of the anatomy is primarily involved in manipulating the toy. When used in this manner, it would not be improper to refer to the apparatus as an exercising device, although when it is used by children it is best referred to as toy. When used by an adult it is best referred to as an exercising device, or a therapeutic apparatus.

I claim:

1. A hand held weight swinging toy comprised of a frame having a hand hold from which there laterally depends a support member;

a pair of shafts spaced apart from one another and affixed to said support member, said shafts being parallel to one another and to said hand hole; a pair of arms; each arm having a pivoted end and a weight carrying end; a weight affixed to said weight carrying end; a journal means formed at said pivoted end;

said journal means at said pivoted end of each said arm being received in low frictional engagement by one of said shafts; and,

means removably retaining the pivoted end of said arm rotatably afiixed to the shaft.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein the effective swing length of each arm is less than the shortest length as measured between said spaced apart shafts.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein said shafts are parallel to one another and to said hand hold.

4. The toy of claim 2, wherein said weight is in the fonn of a ball, said weight being at least four times greater than the weight of said arm.

5. The toy of claim 1 wherein said means removably retaining said arm to said shaft includes a diametrically formed passageway formed in the marginal terminal free end portion of said shaft, and a pin means extending through said passageway.

6. The toy of claim 1, wherein there is further provided means by which the length of said arm can be adjusted.

7. The toy of claim 1 wherein the effective swing length of each arm is less than the shortest length as measured between said spaced apart shafts;

said shafts being parallel to one another and to said hand hold.

l I t t 

1. A hand held weight swinging toy comprised of a frame having a hand hold from which there laterally depends a support member; a pair of shafts spaced apart from one another and affixed to said support member, said shafts being parallel to one another and to said hand hole; a pair of arms; each arm having a pivoted end and a weight carrying end; a weight affixed to said weight carrying end; a journal means formed at said pivoted end; said journal means at said pivoted end of each said arm being received in low frictional engagement by one of said shafts; and, means removably retaining the pivoted end of said arm rotatably affixed to the shaft.
 2. The toy of claim 1 wherein the effective swing length of each arm is less than the shortest length as measured between said spaced apart shafts.
 3. The toy of claim 2, wherein said shafts are parallel to one another and to said hand hold.
 4. The toy of claim 2, wherein said weight is in the form of a ball, said weight being at least four times greater than the weight of said arm.
 5. The toy of claim 1 wherein said means removably retaining said arm to said shaft includes a diametrically formed passageway formed in the marginal terminal free end portion of said shaft, and a pin means extending through said passageway.
 6. The toy of claim 1, wherein there is further provided means by which the length of said arm can be adjusted.
 7. The toy of claim 1 wherein the effective swing length of each arm is less than the shortest length as measured between said spaced apart shafts; said shafts being parallel to one another and to said hand hold. 